Panus auricular (Panus conchatus)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Polyporales
- Family: Polyporaceae (Polyporous)
- Genus: Panus (Panus)
- Species: Panus conchatus (Panus ear)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- Saw-leaf
Synonyms:
- Lentinus torulosus
- Saw-leaf
Photo by: Valery Afanasyev External description
Hat: the size of the diameter of the cap ranges from 4-10 cm. In young mushrooms, the surface of the cap is lilac-red, but then turns brownish. The mature mushroom turns brown. The cap has an irregular shape: shell-shaped or funnel-shaped. The edges of the cap are wavy and slightly curled. The surface of the cap is hard, bald, leathery.
Plates: rather narrow, not frequent, as well as the cap are hard. In a young fungus, the plates have a lilac-pinkish color, then turn brown. Go down the leg.
Spore powder: white.
Stem: very short, strong, narrowed at the base and in relation to the cap is almost in a lateral position. 5 cm high. Up to two centimeters thick.
Flesh: white, tough and bitter in taste.
Spread
Panus auriform is found in deciduous forests, usually on dead wood. The mushroom grows in whole bunches. It bears fruit all summer and autumn.
Edibility
The ear pannus is little known, but not poisonous. The mushroom will not bring any harm to the person who ate it. It is eaten fresh and pickled. In Georgia, this mushroom is used in cheese making.
Similarity
Sometimes Panus ear-shaped is mistaken for an ordinary oyster mushroom.
Remarks
Pannus has ear-like color and the shape of the cap may differ. Young specimens have a characteristic color with a lilac tint. A young mushroom can be easily identified by this very characteristic.